Math class raises funds flying kites

The teen's older brother will be his bone marrow transplant donor.
By AMANDA GARRETT
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Kites flew high in the breeze Wednesday above Mollenkopf Stadium at Warren G. Harding High School, but one flew higher and longer than the rest.
The kites were flown by math teacher Andrew Tripoulas' 10th- and 11th-grade geometry class, and the one that flew highest and longest was piloted by Kajuan Bernard, 17, of Warren.
The kite-flying event kicked off a fund-raising campaign to help Kajuan's friend Chase Witherspoon, 17, of Warren Township, during his upcoming bone marrow transplant. Chase graduated this year from LaBrae schools.
Chase, diagnosed with leukemia one year ago on his birthday, is scheduled to begin tests in preparation for the transplant June 12 at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, his mother, Mary Witherspoon, said.
Chase's older brother Reese, 23, will be the bone marrow donor, she said.
Mary Witherspoon was unable to attend the kite flying, but she said she appreciates the efforts of Kajuan and the class to help Chase.
Although Kajuan and the Witherspoon family are not biologically related, the Witherspoon family considers Kajuan to be part of their family, she said.
"He's like my adopted son, and he and Chase are like brothers," she said.
What came next
After the students flew the kites across the length of the stadium, 11th-grader Jasmine Stringer read a poem dedicated to Kajuan, Chase and their families.
"This is just a small sign compared to the deep sadness you must feel," she read to Kajuan. "I can't say I understand how you feel, but you are in our prayers, and we are in this circle supporting you and your family."
Kajuan said the kite flying was very important to him.
"It means a lot to know that everybody cares and that they're helping him so he can get better," he said.
The entire class made the decision to dedicate the kite flying to Chase, Tripoulas said.
"We all know and love Kajuan," he said. "He is very well-loved by his peers, and we wanted to help his family financially in these hard times."
The kites were a good way to integrate learning and charity, Tripoulas said.
"The kites help reinforce learning because they have all the shapes we've learned about through the year," he said. "Anytime, you can integrate an event like this with academics it's important to do so."
Donations can be made the Chase Witherspoon Fund, c/o Kajuan Bernard, 1557 Palmyra Road, Warren, OH 44485. Donations can also be made to the Witherspoon fund at any Chase Bank branch.
agarrett@vindy.com